August 2010

UPDATE

There is always so much going on here! The last three months have been “choker” – a team of 29 from New Zealand, visitors and incoming mentors from various parts of the world, our next classroom completed, seminars conducted in different parts of the country, new business initiatives, and more! I trust you’ll enjoy the various reports and updates available from this website. – Alan Stephenson, Board Chairman

JOSHUA LEADERSHIP MISSIONS COLLEGE (JLMC)

Preparation continues for the bilingual course beginning in 2011. There are many areas to be established for this to work properly. The greater use of some of our graduates to return as lecturers and mentors is also a great step forward – raising the need for them to be mentored and remunerated as well! The challenge for adequate funding of this strategic ministry continues and the faithful support from those standing with us is so vital and appreciated by all. It would be such a blessing to you if you were to witness the transformed ministry of these graduates as they continue to impact their respective areas, while networking together to reach the harvest!
Our 4-month, degree-level leadership modules continue to change lives powerfully. Alumni testimonies abound! Here are a couple…
Revivalist Solomon N’gimba: The best thing I ever did in my ministry was to attend Joshua. Using that material I have travelled through Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique each year for years now, preaching the gospel and establishing believers. Always there are miracles!
Senior Pastor Deo Rudovich: the churches I oversee in a Burundian refugee sector of Tanzania have been built using what I have gained at Joshua. It has made all the difference. – Owen Wagener, Dean

EDUCATION UPDATE

Joshua Teachers Training College (JTTC)
Our new teacher training course is underway! Students started the residential part in early July, and are currently being intensively trained in Bible, thinking skills, computer and English. Five of our six mentors are now in Tanzania, with our sixth arriving soon. We are excited about working with these student teachers in our new mentoring model to see still higher levels of teaching practice in our schools.
Joshua School Arusha (JSA)
At our recent parents’ day the children charmed parents with their English and acting skills! Parents expressed delight with the quality of care and education their children are receiving at JSA. – And another classroom is almost completed!
Joshua Schools Magugu (JSM)
A highlight for us was the visit in July of a large group (22 upper secondary students and 7 teachers) from Kingsway School in Silverdale, New Zealand. This capable and enthusiastic group led groups of students in Kids’ Games on our campus in Magugu for 2 consecutive weeks. Their time was broken by a 2 day safari in the middle – a welcome break from village life and food!! The school is still ringing with songs, raps and the general buzz of the Kingsway input.

WOMENS' MINISTRY

Tabora in the west is the old slave capital of inland Tanzania. Pastor Deo Rudovic, a graduate from Joshua’s Leadership College had asked me to conduct a leadership conference with Burundian refugee women there. On the second day a vehicle arrived with 7 soldiers carrying machine guns. We were all taken to the police station where Deo spent 8 hours in ‘lock up’ despite the fact that it’s illegal to take a minister from a church! Thank you for your support for this aspect of Joshua’s ministry. The African women who make up the leadership of the women's work are becoming free of the strongholds that have held African women in bondage for centuries. Will you stand with us as we move out into the fields of East Africa? – Lois Wagener

BUSINESS

Poverty affects every aspect of people’s lives. Business is a proven and effective tool to address poverty and bring life. Business conducted in a Kingdom way, with Kingdom values, objectives and training will bring about the change Jesus so wants to make in a poor society! We have worked strategically over the past 18 months to embark on an effective business ministry. Some of the key aspects are:

• Establishing a Charitable Company East Africa Development Limited
  
• Securing rights to the world’s leading tyre sealant product – Slime (www.slime.com). Punctures are a reality here! We are starting distribution this month (August) through a significant company and anticipate it doing well.
  
• Commencing a Community Bank to assist people to save and have access to capital for small business. 80% of Tanzanians have no access to banking facilities.

We are commencing the development of a business-training curriculum which can educate those interested in running a micro-business with little education. Long-term our goal is to train enough business people to influence the way business is conducted in Tanzania and to attack poverty. Corruption kills much African progress and potential. We’re committed to addressing this fundamental societal cancer. – Richard Wagener

OVERSEAS TEAM MEMBERS

Richard and Pammela Kay join us mid-September from New Zealand as permanent on-field staff. Richard will be involved in leadership training, while Pammela will manage our guest and sponsorship departments!.